Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

A native of Togliatti, Russia, Anton Klementyev moved to Yaroslavl, playing for the good, productive Lokomotiv school. He earned a regular spot with first with the junior team, then with the farm team in the Russian third league.

2008-09: Klementyev made his debut in the KHL, playing one game for Yaroslavl Lokomotiv. He also made his debut with the junior national team in the Tyumen tournament, where he played a solid, tight defensive game. Klementyev was selected by New York in the fifth round (122nd overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft.

2009-10: Klementyev made the move to North America as a 19-year-old and made his NHL debut in a March game against Columbus. Klementyev played a little over six minutes in that game and did not make the scoresheet. He played for Russia at the 2010 World Junior U-20 Championship and was scoreless and +2 with 4 PMs. in six games.

2010-11: Klementyev spent his second season in North America with Bridgeport (AHL). He was one of the better defensive defensemen for the Sound Tigers before suffering a season-ending leg injury in February. In 51 games for last-place Bridgeport he scored 2 goals with 7 assists and was -3 with 28 PMs.

2011-12: Klementyev skated in 20 games for Islanders AHL affiliate Bridgeport and was minus-one with 1 assist and 8 penalty minutes. The Islanders attempted to loan him to an ECHL club but he refused to report and was ultimately released by New York in February. He finished the year in Russia – skating for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl's second team in the VHL as well as playing one game with the club's U-22 junior team.

Talent Analysis

A reliable defenseman, who plays a steady, hard nose style and whose tasks are mainly defensive. Klementyev doesn’t look comfortable joining the rush or bringing the puck through the zones, but he is a valuable blue liner who has very good checking abilities and physical play. Never scared by the battles along the boards, his strength and balance make him an estimable presence in the corners. He doesn’t play the puck often and mostly he just looks out for tape-to-tape passes, but he rarely misses them and can also deal well with passes coming from linemates. A good skater, isn’t a speedster but isn’t slow at all and skates well backwards. He has a not bad shot from the point but he doesn’t use it often as he mostly plays a defensive game, paying more attention to covering the zone getting back.

Future

At this stage of development Anton Klementyev has to be considered a long shot for the NHL. His defensive awareness and his physical play will be surely helpful in his future, but first he has to earn some experience prior to really pursue an NHL career. Klementyev was sent to the ECHL but did not report and was suspended, so his future is up in the air at this time.